Free Flame Thrower by Alice Wade Page A

tried any form of healing and it was only a matter of time. When he completed what he set out to do, he turned towards the bed surprised to find Tillian watching him with heavily lidded eyes.
    His heart thudded a few times heavily in his chest at the sight of her. Unable to do more than stare at her like an imbecile, he continued to hold her gaze before shaking his head in amazement at how unbalanced this woman made him. Finally releasing a sigh, he asked, “Are you thirsty?” He couldn’t deny the flutter of nerves in his stomach at seeing her awake and watching him so intently.
    “Yes, thank you.” Tillian said, sitting up. She tucked the blankets around her before she accepted the mug he handed her. After she drank the water, she snuggled back into the warm mattress. “I appreciate you bringing the healers. That was very considerate of you.” Tillian said with a voice thick with exhaustion. She fought the sleep aid Edda gave her. She hated being this powerless against her own body but this time she didn’t mind giving up. Making the situation even more acceptable was the fact Ryan had returned.
    He just watched her. His fingers twitched to reach out and caress her cheek, but he resisted. “I would have done that for anyone, but Tillian, you are not anyone. You are a Princess. If we were closer to the palace, I would have taken you there first. Edda is the next best thing to the palace healers, so it was the least I could do.”
    He lost the battle and his strong fingers traced her cheek and eventually cupped her face. That little contact sent fingers of arousal that tickled her body, causing her to react. He saw that flash through her eyes and sighed. Now was not the time. “You look exhausted, Tillian. Sleep.” Ryan squatted inches from her face and now that she was clean he could smell her natural earthly scent. She smelled of the desert and of sand and of wild cactus flowers. She smelled divine. Sighing to himself because he knew he was lost to her charm, he started to move away before he did anything that crossed a line when her hand reached out to stop him.
    “You won’t leave, will you?” Tillian’s eyes swirled with a mixture of desire and anxiety while she waited for him to reply.
    He could easily see the signs of whatever drug she’d been given now he was looking for the symptoms.
    “I won’t go anywhere. I don’t think I could even if I wanted to. You have bewitched me, I must confess, so I’ll stay right here while you rest.” Ryan returned his hand to her face and reveled in the feel of her skin against his palm. Equally, he enjoyed the desire blooming in her eyes the longer his hand remained.
    Tillian closed her eyes at his touch as pressed her cheek into his palm. “Good.”
    He felt her heart racing from that little contact and knew he probably added to her induced discomfort. He was about to move his hand away when her eyes flew open. The reaction halted his movement.
    With an intensity Tillian didn’t know how to interpret, a gripping panic seared through her mind that Ryan was going leave her side. She realized in that split second that it was because of the drugs; that Ryan helped ease the pain of the effects, and Tillian didn’t want him to leave. It was dishonorable of her but she couldn’t handle him in this same room and not in this bed. “Don’t leave,” she desperately whispered. She saw the confusion appear in his eyes, but she still felt the gripping panic and begged again, “Please, don’t go.”
    “I’m only going to the other side of this tiny cabin.” He wasn’t sure how to interpret her reaction. He wanted nothing more than to stay right where he was, but doing so would have qualified for what Wallace would have accused–of pushing too hard.
    “No, please don’t leave right here. Your touch eases my pain and it feels nice. I know this is a little improper, especially for both of us, but will you lie with me instead?” She was already ruined, so what was